This regular feature recognizes the achievements, activities, and accolades of Austin Community College District (ACC) faculty and staff. To submit news or suggestions, see the contact information below.

The following employees received a December Provost’s 3Cs Shining Star Award at a special reception on Thursday, December 7, at San Gabriel Campus:

  • Chelsea Biggerstaff, Interim Manager, Faculty Development
  • Naomi Garza, Manager, College & High School Program Operations
  • Dale Bunton, Senior Administrative Assistant
  • Victor Sibaja-Molina, Manager, Instructional Media Production  
  • Tung Huynh, Senior Analyst, Enrollment Management
  • Alejandra Polcik, Manager, Hispanic Outreach Projects

Ayeesha Green, Student Money Management Office coordinator, recently became an Accredited Financial Counselor® through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE). AFCPE’s counseling and coaching certifications are the most respected in the field of financial counseling and education. Green completed extensive coursework, passed an exam, and documented 1,000 hours of providing personal financial counseling and coaching. 

ACC Radio-Televison-Film (RTF) chair and professor, Christian Raymond, and RTF associate professor John Moore shared their experience using Stornaway for interactive student films. Read the post HERE. 

Three ACC Massage Therapy students were each awarded a $5,000 scholarship from Massage Heights and the Zenoti Foundation. A total of $50,000 was distributed to 10 massage therapy students nationwide. It is the first time any continuing education student has received the scholarship in its history — and ACC has three. Congratulations to students Ashley Avalos, Marquisha Mcphail, and Quinnese Reese. Read the full press release HERE.

ACC adjunct professor, Dr. Rodney Rohde, participated in the latest episode of GBAC-TIPS Deep Dive Interview Series. The episode, called Putting a Face on Clinical Laboratory Sciences w/ Dr. Rodney Rohde, is posted online. TIPS is a volunteer-based organization that exists to advance innovations, ideas, and processes that make a difference in global health. 

Austin NAACP President, Nelson Linder, hosted a conversation with ACC Trustee Dr. Nora De Hoyos Comstock and ACC Community Engagement Director Loretta Edelen focused on the recent ACC bond campaign. The interview was broadcast on ATX Soul Radio during a segment called “Above the Fray” on October 25, 2022. 

ACC hosted a delegation of government and private sector medical officials as part of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program which fosters citizen-to-citizen diplomacy for emerging leaders. Health Sciences Dean Nina Almasy and ACC Regional Simulation Center Director Dr. Audra Lewis led the group on a tour of ACC Highland and the  Health Sciences Simulation Center on December 8 and talked about the college’s nursing program and the work of the community college to fill the continuing education needs of nurses.

Earlier this semester, the ACC Employee Wellness Program was recognized at the 2022 Mayor’s Health & Fitness Awards ceremony. The program was recognized with the ‘Moving the Needle Workplace Award’ in the Physical Activity category. The program also received the Mayor’s Health & Fitness Council Workplace Partner Certification at the Gold level. Read the press release HERE.

Do you know a student, faculty, or staff member who has accomplished something notable outside the classroom or in their community? We want to hear about them. Contact Victoria Garza Gonzalez, ACC internal communications coordinator, at [email protected].